On a January afternoon in Paris, Camiel Fortgens chose proximity over spectacle. For Autumn/Winter 2026, the Amsterdam-based designer unveiled his latest collection inside an intimate Parisian apartment, a setting that felt less like a venue and more like a lived-in thought. Officially presented on the FHCM calendar, the show unfolded at human scale, inviting guests to observe closely, to notice wear, texture, and the subtle poetry of use.
Camiel Fortgens AW26 and the Quiet Power of Interior Transformation
Fortgens has long been fascinated by functional objects and the traces they carry, and AW26 deepens that inquiry. This season turns inward, toward furniture, interiors, and the overlooked utility of domestic life translating them into garments that feel both familiar and quietly estranged. It’s a continuation of the brand’s dialogue between daily urban existence and more rugged, utilitarian environments, where clothing must adapt, endure, and evolve.
Upholstery, Jacquards, and Leather as Wearable Memory
Textiles typically reserved for the home become the collection’s foundation. Upholstery wools, jacquards, and worn leathers are lifted from their expected contexts and reworked for the body. Curtain pleats are reimagined as skirts; aged couch leathers inform the construction of jackets; faded cushions find new life as bags. Upholstery references surface throughout the collection,,not literally, but slightly askew, deliberately imperfect rendered in a palette of mud browns, washed greys, and earthy greens that echo time, touch, and repetition.
The silhouettes remain archetypal but never static. Key pieces include pleated skirts derived directly from curtain constructions, leather jackets that recall softened furniture surfaces, and layered elements designed to function independently or as part of a larger system. This modularity reflects Fortgens’ ongoing interest in how garments are actually worn, how they stack, shift, and respond to the body over time.
There is a quiet intelligence to the way AW26 navigates transformation. Interiors become exteriors; objects designed to stay still are translated into movement. The result is clothing that feels lived-in from the outset — not distressed for effect, but shaped by an understanding of use and necessity.
Founded in 2014 after Fortgens graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven, the brand has always operated with an outsider’s clarity. Choosing not to attend fashion school, Fortgens entered the industry unburdened by its conventions, bringing an unpolished, deeply considered approach to ready-to-wear archetypes. Made in Europe from high-quality fabrics, his pieces are defined by exposed construction, deconstructed detailing, and a commitment to “perfect imperfection.”
With Autumn/Winter 2026, Camiel Fortgens continues to refine a language that resists excess. In a moment when fashion often looks outward for impact, this collection finds its strength in the interior proving that the most compelling transformations sometimes begin at home.
